Ethiopia’s Haile Gebreselassie aspiring to join politics

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – Distance running great Haile Gebrselassie says he is entering politics and may run for president of Ethiopia – even if his wife is not sure it’s a good idea.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist and multiple world champion in the 10,000 meters tells The Associated Press he wants to “reach more people” through politics, a topic most Ethiopians avoid in a restrictive society with few civil liberties.

Used to breaking barriers having set over two dozen world records from 5,000 meters to the marathon, the 40-year-old Gebrselassie says in an interview Monday that he will run for a seat in parliament as an independent candidate in 2015.

And although the next presidential election in September is probably too soon, Gebrselassie also is considering a future run for that office.

Source: The Associated Press.

Haile Gebreselassie is the undisputed world athletics champion, breaking records in the ten and five thousand metres and even named “a man from another plane…